Bulls President & CEO Michael Reinsdorf voiced a belief in the “need to enter an era of hands-on ownership” in remarks following the firings of EVP Artūras Karnišovas and GM Marc Eversley, according to Julia Poe of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. The news conference “marked Reinsdorf’s first public comments to the media” about the Bulls in more than five years. As the team prepares for their fourth-ever hiring search to replace their top two execs, Reinsdorf “wants to shift his approach.” He said, “We do give a lot of autonomy to our people, but that doesn’t mean they can just make any decision they want. It’s our job to ask the right questions and to push back when needed. … I think I need to do a much better job of that.” Poe noted Reinsdorf “will collaborate” with former team GM and longtime adviser John Paxson and assistant GM Pat Connelly and JJ Polk. The Bulls will also “hire a search firm and consult with coach Billy Donovan on the process.” Reinsdorf said that he is “not committed to a set structure for the front office.” Poe wrote the team might “stick with the previous hierarchy of an executive vice president and a general manager or shift to just a general manager with many assistants.” However, Reinsdorf added that ownership had “been considering a departure from the office since last summer” (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/7).

DONOVAN’S MOVE: In Chicago, Joe Cowley noted the meeting next week with Donovan to sit-down with the Reinsdorfs “no longer would be about them trying to sell Donovan on why he should stay as much as them making sure there would be no reason to leave.” Donovan speaking to the media Tuesday sounded like a coach “anticipating the future in an organization” in which he will “have a louder voice.” Though, Reinsdorf “downplayed the idea” of Donovan remaining the coach and carrying the title of VP of basketball operations, he is “willing to listen to all options in the meeting” (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 4/7). Poe in a separate piece notes the respect between Bulls ownership and Donovan has “been a rare throughline for the past six years.” Despite posting a losing record in Chicago, Donovan “has inspired deep loyalty at all levels of the organization for his work ethic, attention to detail and player-first mentality.” The Bulls “are committed to Donovan.” Now, it is “time to test whether the coach is ready to recommit to Chicago” (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/8).